Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamoalaikum burhan bhai sahab.

1} can you please tell me, islamically speaking how do we muslims believe this world started. how old this universe is etc...

much appreciated as always

jazakallah khair

p.s. please keep up the good work, amy allah subhana wata`allah reward you and your colleagues for the khidmat-e-khalak that you guys are doing.

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Answer:

Origin of universe creation

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: can you please tell me, islamically speaking how do we muslims believe this world started.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 36 Surah Yaa Seen verse 82: Verily, when He (Allah) intends a thing His command is (only to Say:) "Be"; and it is (or comes into existence)!

As believers in Allah Subhanah, His Noble Attributes, and in the Last Day, our belief should be absolutely firm and unshakeable in the Power and Might of our Lord Creator, Allah Subhanah wa Taala. Our Lord Most Majestic Most Supreme does not need anyone or anything to bring about His Will, but rather whenever He intends to do anything, His one and only command to is ‘Be’, and the thing comes into existence! Such is the Might and Power of our Lord All-Mighty!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 17 Surah Anbiya verse 30: Do not the Unbelievers see that the Heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit or mass) before We clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?

In light of the above clear guidance of the Glorious Quran regarding the origin of the universe, Allah Subhanah Declares in Truth that the Heavens and the earth were joined together as one mass or unit, and He clove and split them asunder to form the worlds as we know it.

Almost 1400 years after the Revelation of the Quran, the majority of the modern scientists, with all their years of data, and studies, and computers, and technology have only now succumbed to their ‘theory’ that the universe was at one time a one combined unit or mass, and was ‘split asunder’ by a huge blast or bang, which is known in the scientific circles as the ‘Big Bang Theory’.

He was the Absolute First and there was nothing before Him; and He is the Absolute Last and there is nothing after Him! He it is, Who in His Supreme and Perfect Wisdom brought the ‘mass’ into existence, and He it is Who commanded it to split asunder to form the heavenly bodies which are in existence today! Blessed is He to Whom Alone belongs the Dominion of the Heavens and the Earth and everything that exists in between.

Although you have asked only regarding the origin, in the below quoted Aayahs the Lord Most Supreme has made it known what will be the end of this supposedly and seemingly mighty universe! The earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll in His Blessed Right Hand! Glory be to our Lord, Whose Magnificence, Majesty, and Might is beyond all comprehension!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verse 67: No just estimate have they made of Allah such as is due to Him: on the Day of Judgment the whole of the earth will be but His handful and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the partners they attribute to Him!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 21 Surah Anbiyaa verse 104: The Day that we roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed), even as We produced the first Creation so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.

Your Question: how old this universe is etc...
The exact information of when exactly did the Lord Creator bring the universe into existence is with none save Allah Subhanah. Had this information been necessary for the guidance of mankind, the Lord would surely have made it known to man.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan